Child Support
In one sentence
Court-ordered payments from one parent to the other for a child's living expenses.
Plain English
Child support is money that a court requires one parent to pay to the other parent (or guardian) to help cover the child's expenses like food, housing, education, and healthcare. The amount is usually calculated using state guidelines that consider both parents' incomes, the number of children, and custody arrangements. Child support continues until the child reaches the age of majority, typically 18 or 21 depending on the state. It's a legal obligation separate from custody decisions.
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Example
A father earning $60,000 annually is ordered to pay $800 per month in child support to the mother who has primary custody of their two children.
Used in a sentence
“The judge set child support at an amount that reflects both parents' incomes and the children's actual needs.”
How Child Support differs by state
Child Support can apply differently depending on the state. Click a state to see local specifics.
Alabama
Alabama uses income shares model; support ends at age 19 unless child attends college.
Alaska
Alaska applies income shares model; obligor pays percentage of combined parental income.
Arizona
Arizona uses income shares model; support ends at age 18 or high school graduation, whichever is later.
Arkansas
Arkansas uses income shares model; support ends at age 18 unless child remains in high school.
California
California uses income shares model; support ends at age 18 or high school graduation, whichever is later.
Colorado
Colorado uses income shares model; child support ends at age 19 unless the child is still in high school.
Connecticut
Connecticut applies statutory guidelines based on combined parental income; support continues until age 23 if the child attends college.
Delaware
Delaware uses income shares guidelines; support ends at age 18 unless the child is still in high school or has special needs.
Florida
Florida uses income shares model; both parents share support obligations proportional to income, with specific time-sharing adjustments.
Georgia
Georgia uses income shares model; support ends at age 18 unless the child is still in high school or has special needs.
Hawaii
Hawaii uses income shares model and caps child support at the highest combined parental income level specified in guidelines.
Idaho
Idaho uses income shares model with mandatory guidelines and allows deviation only when specific statutory factors justify it.
Illinois
Illinois uses income shares model and requires child support to continue through age 18 or high school graduation, whichever is later.
Indiana
Indiana uses income shares model and requires both parents to share child support obligations proportionally based on their incomes.
Iowa
Iowa uses income shares model and allows child support to extend beyond age 18 if the child is still in high school.
Kansas
Kansas uses income shares model; support continues until age 18 or high school graduation, whichever is later.
Kentucky
Kentucky uses income shares; support ends at age 18 unless child attends college, then continues until age 19.
Louisiana
Louisiana uses income shares; support ends at age 18 unless child attends college full-time, then until age 23.
Maine
Maine uses income shares; support ends at age 18 unless child attends college, then continues until age 19.
Maryland
Maryland uses income shares; support ends at age 18 unless child attends college full-time, then until age 19.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts uses income shares model and caps child support at combined parental income of $163,000 annually.
Michigan
Michigan uses statutory child support formula based on combined parental income up to $163,000 with automatic adjustment triggers.
Minnesota
Minnesota applies income shares model with support continuing through age 18 and automatic adjustment every two years.
Mississippi
Mississippi uses percentage-of-income model with support ending at age 18 unless child remains in secondary school.
Missouri
Missouri uses income shares model with support capped at combined parental income of $235,000 and automatic adjustment provisions.
Montana
Montana uses income shares model; support ends at age 19 unless child remains in high school.
Nebraska
Nebraska applies income shares model; support generally ends at age 19 or high school graduation, whichever is later.
Nevada
Nevada uses income shares model; support ends at age 18 unless child is still in high school.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire uses income shares model; support extends to age 23 if child attends college full-time.
New Jersey
New Jersey uses income shares model; support extends to age 23 for college-bound children in most cases.
New Mexico
New Mexico uses income shares model; parents split child support based on combined income and custody time.
New York
New York caps combined parental income at $163,000 (adjusted annually) for guideline child support calculations.
North Carolina
North Carolina uses income shares model; support ends at age 18 unless the child is still in high school.
North Dakota
North Dakota uses income shares model; obligor pays percentage of combined income based on number of children.
Ohio
Ohio uses income shares model; support ends at age 18 unless the child is still in high school.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma uses income shares model; child support continues until age 18 or high school graduation, whichever is later.
Oregon
Oregon applies income shares model with mandatory review every three years or upon significant income change.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania uses income shares model; support ends at age 18 unless the child is still in secondary school.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island uses income shares model; support terminates at age 18 unless the child is still in high school.
South Carolina
South Carolina uses income shares model; support ends at age 18 unless the child is still in high school.
South Dakota
South Dakota uses income shares model; support ends at age 18 unless child attends high school.
Tennessee
Tennessee applies income shares model with presumptive guidelines; support ends at age 18 or high school graduation.
Texas
Texas caps child support at 20% of obligor's income for one child; support ends at age 18 or graduation.
Utah
Utah uses income shares model with mandatory guidelines; support generally ends at age 18 unless child is still in high school.
Vermont
Vermont uses income shares model; support ends at age 18 unless child remains in secondary school full-time.
Virginia
Virginia uses a guideline formula based on combined parental income, with child support typically ending at age 19.
Washington
Washington calculates child support using combined parental income and a statutory schedule, with support typically ending at age 18.
West Virginia
West Virginia uses an income-shares model with statutory percentages, and support typically continues until age 18 or high school graduation.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin uses an income-shares formula with statutory percentages and allows support to extend beyond age 18 for post-secondary education.
Wyoming
Wyoming uses a percentage-of-income model with statutory guidelines, and support generally terminates at age 19 or high school graduation.
District of Columbia
DC calculates child support using income shares model and requires payments until age 18, or 19 if still in high school.
Related terms
Alimony
Court-ordered payments from one spouse to another after divorce or separation.
Spousal Support
Court-ordered payments from one spouse to another, typically during or after divorce proceedings.
Child Custody
A court's decision about which parent has the right to care for and make decisions for a child.
Divorce
The legal dissolution of a marriage, ending the spouses' rights and responsibilities to each other.
Common Law Marriage
A marriage created by mutual agreement and cohabitation, without a formal ceremony or license.
Community Property
Property acquired during marriage that is owned equally by both spouses, regardless of who earned it.
No-Fault Divorce
A divorce granted without requiring either spouse to prove wrongdoing by the other.
This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change over time. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney.